‘Wallace and Gromit’ to Return in New Feature Film From Aardman

Anna Nicole Smith‘s tragic death on February 8, 2007, left a huge hole in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. In an EXCLUSIVE interview with HollywoodLife, the late model and actress’s best friends — dress designers Patrik Simpson and his husband, Pol’ Atteu — revealed for the first time their plans to honor their fallen friend in a way that will keep her memory alive forever! “I am super excited to announce this to you on the 15th anniversary of Anna’s death that our book, Anna Nicole Smith – Portrait of An Icon, which was published in 2008 by Kings Road Publishing and contains intimate stories and memories of our friendship, as well as never before seen photos, is being turned into a new biopic film,” Patrik told us.

New York University has officially launched a new course focused on Taylor Swift, just in time for spring semester.As part of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, the course will run from January 26 to March 9, and students can expect to learn more about the singer’s career and her cultural influence.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterAlamo Drafthouse, the specialty cinema chain that’s famous for in-theater dining and a strict no-cell phone policy, is expanding its North American footprint.The Texas-based exhibition company plans to open four additional venues in new regions, including Chicago and Birmingham, as well as markets with existing Alamo Drafthouse locations, such as Grand Prairie, Texas and Glendale, Colo. It intends to welcome those venues — and previously announced in-the-works multiplexes in Staten Island, N.Y.; Crystal City, Va.; and St. Louis, Mo.

Messaging online can be fraught with worries that what you are saying won't stay between you and the recipient. However, a new update from Facebook could bring peace of mind to many users that their messages won't be copied and forwarded. Following promises to increase user security and privacy, Facebook has updated their messaging service to better protect users.

Taylor Swift.The course began at the Davis Institute, which is part of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, on January 26 and will run through to March 9.Set to be taught by Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos, the course will cover “Swift’s evolution as a creative music entrepreneur, the legacy of pop and country songwriters, discourses of youth and girlhood, and the politics of race in contemporary popular music” (via Variety).“This course proposes to deconstruct both the appeal and aversions to Taylor Swift through close readings of her music and public discourse as it relates to her own growth as an artist and a celebrity,” a description adds.“Through readings, lectures and more, the class delves into analyses of the culture and politics of teen girlhood in pop music, fandom, media studies, whiteness and power as it relates to her image and the images of those who have both preceded and succeeded her. We’ll also consider topics like copyright and ownership, American nationalism and the ongoing impact of social media on the pop music industry.”The Swift course already has a long waiting list of students, a representative for the course told Variety.

Fresh from a holiday in the Bahamas with hubby Iain Stirling and their baby daughter, Laura Whitmore has jetted off to New York City.The Love Island presenter has been sharing a look inside her city break on her stories, accompanied by her adorable tot. "Well hello New York!!!" Laura penned as the caption to one photo, where she can be seen donning a gorgeous leopard print coat.The star, 36, dons a black hat and holds her hand towards the camera in the photo with New York City as the vibrant backdrop.

DistroTV, a free ad-supported streaming television platform, is moving into original content with the global debut of a feature film, Escándalo Secreto: En Plena Cuarentena. The comedy feature, directed and written by Jorge Cano, will bow on February 25th.

Editors note: When we think of Robert De Niro and Italy, it’s easiest to focus on the Sicilian town of Corleone, because of his Oscar-winning turn in The Godfather: Part II. But De Niro wanted to focus on Naples, which director Paolo Sorrentino brought to life in The Hand of God. De Niro was so moved, he wrote a guest column for Deadline on why the film touched him so dearly.

The Smile, the side project of Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with Sons Of Kemet’s Tom Skinner, have released their new single ‘The Smoke’ – you can hear the track below.The song is the follow-up to the trio’s debut single ‘You Will Never Work In Television Again’, which arrived earlier this month.A lyric video for ‘The Smoke’ has been released today (January 27) to accompany the new track, with the clip being created by the BAFTA-winning writer and director Mark Jenkin.You can listen to The Smile’s ‘The Smoke’ below.The Smile’s three sold-out live shows in London this weekend (January 29-30) will be livestreamed online to a global audience.The livestreams, which will be directed by the award-winning Paul Dugdale and produced by Driift, will be available to watch at home and in select independent venues and cinemas across the UK, US and Europe.The Smoke (more on that later) at production rehearsals for this weekend… pic.twitter.com/WXJNhkLbsq— The Smile (@thesmiletheband) January 27, 2022You can find further information about the livestreams and screenings by heading here, and see this weekend’s broadcast schedule below.BROADCAST #1: London – 8pm Sat. / New York – 3pm Sat. / Los Angeles – 12pm Sat. / Sydney – 7am Sun. / Tokyo – 5am Sun.BROADCAST #2: London – 1am Sun. / New York – 8pm Sat. / Los Angeles – 5pm Sat. / Sydney – 12pm Sun. / Tokyo – 10am Sun.BROADCAST #3: London – 11am Sun. / New York – 6am Sun. / Los Angeles – 3am Sun. / Sydney – 10pm Sun. / Tokyo – 8pm Sun. Yorke performed The Smile’s ‘Free In The Knowledge’ at the Royal Albert Hall back in October as part of the Letters Live event, footage of which was released last month.

The 2022 Sundance Film Festival obviously has so much to offer. Big premieres from indie auteurs, world cinema, documentaries, films for kids, and movies that are receiving so much acclaim right now, you’ll be hearing more from them later in the year upon regular theatrical release.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorIs one football game big enough for two different networks?NBC and Fox both intend to broadcast the (new) inaugural game from the USFL, the latest in a series of efforts to launch a spring football league that can soak up attention while the NFL is on its usual hiatus. Under an agreement unveiled Tuesday, NBC Sports will provide pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of a game between the New Jersey Generals and the Birmingham Stallions, while Fox Sports will produce coverage of the match-up itself.

Denise Bidot is in the prime of her life. The gorgeous model, one of the most successful worldwide and a true pioneer in the fight for inclusion of curvy women in high-end fashion, is having a remarkable year. She has not only just launched a collection of clothes she designed for Kohl’s, she is also beginning a new chapter in her life moving to the big apple after her breakup with famous rapper Lil Wayne.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the launch of the new interview series, “Seen.” Nick Barili, an Argentinean-American journalist, director, writer and producer, sits down for one-on-one conversations with some of the most influential artists and filmmakers with Latin-American and Spanish roots. The first season of the web series will include Academy members John Leguizamo, Eva Longoria and Oscar-nominee Edward James Olmos (“Stand and Deliver”), as they discuss their personal journeys, culture and breaking down barriers in filmmaking.Leguizamo will lead the first episode as he explores his beloved New York City and maneuvering through the industry over his long career, also covering the topics of colorism and tokenism.

It’s not all that often that Lee Daniels directs a film. Before the release of 2020’s “The United States vs.